Allow Joy To Reintroduce Himself
Tauren Wells
Sermon Highlights
Your happiness matters to God.
In God’s presence is the fullness of joy.
Happiness doesn’t flow from your plans or the season of life you’re in — it flows from the character of Jesus being formed in your heart.
God is uniquely invested in your happiness.
God’s first interaction with humanity was to bless them.
Asking “What’s next?” will destroy your contentment. Instead ask, “What’s here?”
Jesus chose a desolate, isolated place to teach about joy.
Joy is not a feeling, it’s a person.
Maybe the reason why we can’t experience joy is because we are looking AROUND Jesus, not at Him.
Joy is amplified when Jesus is the center and the seal.
God is in the simple.
You can have joy in a posture of rest.
Scriptures
Matthew 5:1-10 - Jesus talks about joy
Genesis 1:28 - God blesses humanity
Sermon Discussion
Conversation Starter
Tauren Wells takes his children anywhere they want to go on their 5th birthdays. If you could go anywhere on your next birthday, where would you go?
Discussion Questions
“Asking ‘What’s next?’ will destroy your contentment. Instead ask, ‘What’s here?’” Where have you been stuck on "what's next"? How can you start finding joy in “what’s here” instead?
“God is in the simple.” Where can you pause to delight in God’s joy through the simple this week?
Additional Questions
Jesus chose a desolate, isolated place to teach about joy. Share about a time you found joy, even in a desolate and isolated place? What did that moment teach you about finding joy that’s stuck with you?
Maybe the reason why we can’t experience joy is because we are looking AROUND Jesus, not at Him. Where have you been tempted to look "around" Jesus, instead of at Him, to find joy? (e.g., accomplishments, relationships, plans)
Prayer Prompt
Ask this question to your eGroup and include it as part of your closing prayer:
Tauren Wells reminded us that “In God’s presence there is fullness of joy.”
Ask your eGroup: What challenge do you have going on this week that you’ll need to intentionally invite God’s presence and joy into?
Thank God for the fullness of joy that is found in His presence. Pray for each person to recognize their need for His joy. Ask God to be present in those times and spaces. Pray for each person to be transformed by His presence, even when it’s challenging.